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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:6

Man's work and God's. I. MAN 'S WORK . It is: 1. Varied. Paul speaks of planting and watering; may extend to the multiform operations of agriculture. We cannot all do the same work. Let us seek to do that for which we are fitted. There is some spiritual work suited to each of us. In agriculture all find employment, from the boy with his clapper scaring away the birds, to the presiding mind which controls all operations. If Christians do nothing it is because they want to do... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

Spiritual husbandry and growth. A man, looking upon the world, sees according to his power of vision; i.e. not simply according to what he finds in it, but to what he brings to it. To the eye of the Apostle Paul, the world was a wilderness which might be made a garden. There was, he saw, rude, worthless growth to be extirpated, rich soil to be tilled, plants of worth and renown to replace the weeds. His prophetic eye beheld the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. And to his mind... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:7

Anything. The planter and the waterer are nothing by comparison. They could do nothing without Christ's aid ( John 15:16 ), and were nothing in themselves ( 2 Corinthians 12:11 ). But God that giveth the increase . The human instruments are nothing, but God is everything, because, apart from him, no result would follow. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:8

Are one; literally, one thing. God is the sole Agent; the teachers, so far from being able to pose as rival leaders, form but one instrument in God's hand. Their relative differences shrink into insignificance when the source and objects of their ministry are considered. His own reward… his own labour. In the lower individual sphere the work of teachers shall be fairly estimated and rewarded as in the parable of the pounds and talents (comp. John 4:36 ; Revelation 22:12 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:9

God's fellow workers. Throughout the Bible we are taught that God requires the work of man, and that he will not help those who will do nothing for themselves or for him. The world was to be evangelized, not by sudden miracle, but by faithful human labour ( Mark 16:20 ). God's husbandry ; rather. God's field, or tilled land. The thought which he desires again and again to enforce is that they belong to God, not to the parties of human teachers. The word" husbandry" may also mean... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:9

God a Husbandman. "We are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry," etc. The words lead us to look at God as the great Husbandman of human souls. As a husbandman— I. HE IS THOROUGHLY ACQUAINTED WITH THE SOIL . 1. He knows its original state. The soil in its pristine state, with all its original powers, he knows. 2. He knows its present condition. Its present barren and wilderness state he understands. To him it seems like the "field of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:9

"God's fellow workers." God is ever working. Let this thought shame those foolish, worthless persons who deem it derogatory to labour. Not only when he fashioned this world and made it fit for our dwelling place, not only when he created man, but always and everywhere is God working. The laws of nature are the operations of the Almighty, and he is working as well in the spiritual sphere as in the physical. I. TRUE CHRISTIANS ARE SPIRITUAL LABOURERS . Christian evangelism and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:9

"God's husbandry." The leading truth in the context would seem to be this—that the most honoured and most successful worker in the kingdom of Christ is but as a helpless instrument through which the living power is pleased to operate, and that power is in God alone. The name of God, therefore, occupies the emphatic place in each clause of this verse. " Of God ye are the husbandry." This is spoken of the Corinthians, not so much as individual believers, but as an organized Christian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:9-12

Foundations and buildings. A curious and interesting blending of metaphors is found in 1 Corinthians 3:9 . "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." The sudden changing of metaphors is a characteristic of St. Paul's style; for instances, see 1 Corinthians 9:7 ; 2 Corinthians 10:4-8 ; Ephesians 3:17 ; Colossians 2:6-7 . The apostle now dwells fully on the architectural metaphor, and gives some thoughts of singular depth and importance on the true foundation for a noble life... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:6

I have planted - The apostle here compares the establishment of the church at Corinth to the planting of a vine, a tree, or of grain. The figure is taken from agriculture, and the meaning is obvious. Paul established the church. He was the first preacher in Corinth; and if any distinction was due to anyone, it was rather to him than to the teachers who had labored there subsequently; but he regarded himself as worthy of no such honor as to be the head of a party, for it was not himself, but God... read more

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